More targeted funding needed to tackle UK cyber crime

News: UK must end fragmented approach to battle the rise in cyber crime.

Tackling UK cyber crime needs better funding allocation and consistent reporting as part of a broad review to get the industry and law enforcement working together, says a report from industry group Tech UK.

The current situation means the ability to tackle cyber crime is highly varied across different UK police forces, the report warned.

The government must review the funding currently assigned to tackling cyber crime and must end localised reporting, recording and responses, it said.

Adrian Leppard, commissioner of the City of London Police, said: "This report highlights the challenges that cyber-crime represents for policing. Within the context of shrinking public sector sources there is clearly the opportunity for private sector technology firms to work in closer partnerships with the Police to tackle the threat posed by cyber-crime."

The report recommends a review of the allocation of funding from Government, the establishment of a police Managed Service Provider to more easily contract skills, more accurate crime reporting, and obligations on industry to report cyber-crime incidents.

The report was based on interviews with both the police and industry, as well as freedom of information requests. It noted that crime figures had risen for the first time in 20 years after the inclusion of cyber crime for the first time.

James Murphy, associate director – defence and security at techUK said: "The ability to effectively tackle cyber-crime remains the collaborative responsibility of civil society as a whole, including businesses, consumers and the technology industry. It’s only by working in partnership with the cyber security industry that the police can access the skills, capacity and reach that they desperately need."

Other recommendations included a more joined up approach to victim support, enhance the role of the College of Policing to create national standards of cyber crime training, and the creation of industry working groups.